Saturday Hike

Saturday we decided to hike the Y again, so that this time we could actually see it, (last time it was still covered in snow) it was fun to be with Eric this time.

Healing Field

Can you believe its been 10 years since the Sept 11th attacks? I still remember the day, I was getting ready for work and watching the news and was in complete shock. Yesterday we went to the Healing Field in Sandy where they have a display of over 3000 flags to remember each of those who lost a life on that day in the attacks. It was even more impressive than I thought it would be as each flag had the name of a person killed, their age and a little bit about that person.

It was amazing to read about the people who died, those who worked for the companies, the firefighters, those aboard the planes, the delivery men just making their morning deliveries, executives, people working their dream job and cashiers who worked in the cafeteria's.

The girls liked looking at the tags, actually I think Sara did it to copy Kate as she can't read yet, Kate was just looking at how old everyone was.

Eric wanted to find the flag for the guy who said "lets roll" before they crashed the plane into the field in PA, here it is, the flag for Todd Beamer. It was a really nice tribute to all of those who lost their lives.

Pioneer stories - why tell them?

I just heard this thought and wanted to share/document. I was at a bishop's fireside on Sunday and the speakers were Sis. Hinkley's younger sisters, (one of them is the mother of a guy in our ward) they were telling some pioneer stories of their family, they asked why should we tell pioneer stories and then offered this reason. In these days there are very little role models for us and our children to look to in the media, sports or even politics, heck I'm from England and I'm not sure that the royal family offer such great role models anymore. Anyway, they suggested that this is a good reason to look back to the pioneers of the church and their trials and commitment to the gospel. Anyway, just liked it and wanted to share.

1st day of Kindergarten

I can't believe it, this day has finally arrived and in some ways the time has flown by and in others I can't believe it is already here, Sara started kindergarten today. Its only 1/2 day so it feels very similar to pre-school. She had a great day, was very excited and can't wait to go back tomorrow. Her favorite thing was doing the ABC's.

the tooth fairy visits Kate

Last week Kate got an abscessed tooth. Not fun. We were actually out of town and the whole side of her face swelled up, she had a fever and was obviously uncomfortable so I took her to the urgent care and got some antibiotics for her. On Tues she had a dentist appt and the recommendation was to pull the tooth, didn't go so well, the needle in her gum was terrible and she screamed and kicked around and the dentist had to stop, after another attempt we left with the tooth still in her mouth. Yesterday I took her to a pediatric dentist, she was on nitrous oxide and watching Monsters Inc, she still didn't like having the shot or the tooth pulled but they were great and got the job done, I'm just glad its over. It was a big ole molar, she wanted to wash it, to make it nice for the tooth fairy I think, here is the note she left under her pillow. (sorry I can't get it to rotate)

Here is what the tooth fairy left her. (also I had to check with a friend that its still cool for the tooth fairy to visit a kid in 2nd grade, she was pretty excited this morning and I was a little worried her bubble would be burst when I dropped her off at school)

She was going to get a scooter this weekend anyway for this-

We love our neighbourhood:)

back to school

Wow! life is just zipping by. Today is the 1st day back at school and a new school for the girls. Kate is now in 2nd grade. Sara is starting Kindergarten but that doesn't start until next Tues. Kate was a little nervous but I'm sure she will be fine, there are several kids from her primary class in her class at school so she will already have some familiar faces. I'm not sure about anyone one else but I think I could readily embrace a year round schedule, don't they do 6 weeks of school and then 2 or 3 weeks off? Kate had 11 weeks off school and boy am I ready to be back on a schedule. Still trying to convince Kate to ride her bike to school, we live close enough and did some trial runs over the summer but on 2 of those she fell off her bike, anyone that knows Kate will know that she lost some skin, not terrible but worse than a kid with normal skin and so she is too nervous to ride, my plan is to make her walk a few days this week and I'm sure by next week she'll want to ride:)

Brief Pause

Even though I have a few more things to post about life here in AF I haven't felt like it as some dear friends of mine just lost their precious little baby boy, he was born very early and for whatever reason it wasn't meant to be that he stay here on earth. I have lost quite a few people in my family over the years so the experience of a loved one passing is not so unfamiliar to me, my great grandmother, maternal grandmother, sister, maternal grandfather my mother and paternal grandmother have all passed, the earliest of course was my great grandmother and at age 8 or so I was really too young to grasp any real understanding or sense of sadness but as the years have progressed and my family has dwindled I have a new perspective. Its always sad to loose someone but when they are older it almost seems natural and although we still miss them its easier to accept that their time here on earth is done but for those who leave this life earlier than we ever expected it is harder, or at least it has been for me. From these experiences it seems cruel somehow that life keeps going on all around you when this momentous occasion has happened in your life, how can something that has touched and affected you so deeply and left a huge whole in your life go so unnoticed, I feel like even if it's just for a brief second the world should just stop in acknowledgement. It never will and life will go on, and, as always time will help, it doesn't ever heal completely but makes things more bearable. So in recognition for that sweet baby boy this is the only part of my world that I can pause, and for his amazing mother and father I sent out my heart.